Now let’s look at the next word in verse 2 Peace, a word we all want, but seems to be escaping us in every area of life. The church, our government and economic is faced with many un-peaceful situations. Peace is like Grace it depends upon whom you believe rather you’re covered by grace and peace. Terrorism has spread into all corners of the word and people are stressed beyond measure it seems in many areas. Only the Lord is able to allow us to live in a world of unrest and terror and yet be at peace. The battle is raging for mans souls, and we need to accept all the Lord has for us in this package of Salvation. Barclay's Daily Study Bible comments In Greek the word for peace is eirene (<G1515>), but it translates the Hebrew word shalowm (<H7965>). In the Bible peace is never a purely negative word; it never describes simply the absence of trouble. Shalowm (<H7965>) means everything which makes for a man's highest good. Christian peace is something quite independent of outward circumstances. A man might live in ease and luxury and on the fat of the land, he might have the finest of houses and the biggest of bank accounts, and yet not have peace; on the other hand, a man might be starving in prison, or dying at the stake, or living a life from which all comfort had fled, and be at perfect peace. The explanation is that there is only one source of peace in all the world, and that is doing the will of God. When we are doing something which we know we ought not to do, or are evading something that we know we ought to do, there is always a haunting dispeace at the back of our minds; but if we are doing something very difficult, even something we do not want to do, so long as we know that it is the right thing there is a certain contentment in our hearts. "In his will is our peace”. Again we need to go back to the Garden of Paradise and look at Eve, she saw, desired, took and gave to Adam and they both hide, from God. Peace was gone, conviction was not present and when our consciences are hardened, we can’t really experience the peace of God, until we experience Gods Forgiveness of sin. Instead we feel the condemnation that Satan places upon us because of SIN. We are living in a world that is not accepting the peace of the Lord, but rather accepting the peace the world is trying to give. Note the entertainment world shoot-um-up with tremendous forces of evil in the X-Boxes, Cubic Cubes, Game Boys, Nintendo’s, or even the violence in the movies, and it does not bother us one bit, we cry out for more violence and who knows how mush more we can take as a society, especially our Christian Society. Paul gives some very strong advice and admonitions In Philippians 4:1-9 (KJV) 1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. This is very difficult to understand today for the world does not want us to see what violence or cruelty is doing to our minds. We become fixated in seeing abuse and terrorism in-acted on the screen in movies and even vulgarity and we become none sensitive to the sub-conscience and how it deadens, or spiritual senses. The Messenger records it, "2 I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ." I like the concept of God Pouring into our lives Grace and Peace, for we are empty vessels needing help and God is there wanting to pour out His blessing upon us, as we open our hearts-minds to His Spirit. The questions we need to ask ourselves if we are going to have the peace of God is Were is my imagination taking me? What is the reason I’m doing or thinking about what is being seen? Do I want someone to treat me like what I’m seeing right now? Is my conscience being renewed, or do I feel dirty and vile? Does my memory about what I am doing, or saying make me rejoice and feel bad, or good? What level is my affection in what I’m seeing, do I want it to be more violent, intense and grouse, or do I want to stop this onslaught of the Soul? The natural man can’t get enough of the things of the world and we need to resist the basic desires and stop feeding the fleshly man and become renewed by looking to the Lord and Savior of our Souls for that which uplifts and encourages in this day we are living in. |